Chapter 734: Deputy XX?

"Whose call is it?"

"Oh, our Section Chief is back. Please wait a moment."

Seeing Li Xuewu enter the room, Sha Qizhi spoke a sentence into the phone, then looked at Li Xuewu and reported: "It's the Jiaodaokou Police Station, looking for you."

"Hmm."

Li Xuewu frowned slightly, took the receiver from Sha Qizhi's hand, and answered: "I am Li Xuewu."

"Second Brother!"

Ji Yuxiu's somewhat panicked voice came through the phone. After confirming that Li Xuewu was the one listening, she said: "Just now, Section Chief Lai from the Public Security Division led a team to inspect our work. He said our evidence management is chaotic, interrogation report registration is incomplete, investigation efforts are not thorough, and there are loopholes in public security management..."

Ji Yuxiu reported to Li Xuewu, reading from the list of inspection issues she had recorded herself; it was a very long list of problems.

"In the end, Section Chief Lai summarized that my management ability is lacking, practical experience is insufficient, and I am not playing an active management role in the station's work. He wants to discipline me..."

"Hmm, I know."

Li Xuewu frowned and said: "This matter has nothing to do with you. Work hard; I will resolve the issues."

"Second Brother, I called Team Leader Shen. He said he would look into it on his end and told me to report this issue to you."

Hearing Li Xuewu's comfort, Ji Yuxiu still felt somewhat uneasy, so she reported everything she could do to Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu understood Ji Yuxiu's meaning and also understood the implication of Shen Fang's arrangement. Since he was already handling this matter, naturally, it had to be reported to him.

That Ji Yuxiu chose to call him instead of her brother was precisely a sign of her growth and maturity.

One can be involuntarily panicked when encountering trouble, but one must not do the wrong thing, and even more so, must not make the wrong choice.

Calling Ji Weidong could also solve this problem, but how would he solve it?

According to Ji Weidong's temper, he would solve it physically. He would definitely be able to deal with Lai Shanchuan.

But doing so would only treat the symptoms, not the root cause. Ji Weidong couldn't just get rid of Lai Shanchuan; it would only intensify the conflict and provoke a counterattack from the system.

What was originally an internal problem would directly become an external one, making the issue even more complex.

Li Xuewu comforted Ji Yuxiu a few times, telling her to carry on with her work, check if there were truly problems in her work, handle those problems, and do her job well.

After hanging up the phone, Li Xuewu didn't contact anyone about this matter. He knew Zheng Fuhua would know without needing a call, and he knew what Shen Fang should do without needing a call either.

As for the approach to solving the problem, Li Xuewu didn't want to rush Lao Biaozi. Take it slow; moving too fast would only lead to problems.

There was still time regarding Ji Yuxiu at the police station. A station chief couldn't be dismissed just because he said so; wait for the meeting.

If Zheng Fuhua, as the supervising leader, didn't agree, his words would carry no weight, unless he truly had something on him.

However, the Jiaodaokou station was right near the Public Security Brigade, and much of the work was done in coordination with the brigade. Shen Fang also visited frequently; could he not know if there were problems?

Plus, with the help of Xing Yichun and others, any problems would have been resolved long ago.

The issues Lai Shanchuan listed were nothing more than using universal problems to make up the numbers because he couldn't find substantive ones, relying on the sheer quantity to form grounds for dismissal.

In fact, there isn't that much to say about the appointment and dismissal of cadres; isn't it just about whether the supervising leader's intentions can be realized?

This matter was mainly targeted at him. Back then, it was Shen Fang who instigated Ji Yuxiu to take this position, and Zheng Fuhua who agreed. How could Lai Shanchuan not know that Ji Yuxiu was his connection?

As for what the specific relationship was, one only needed to ask around to find out. When Li Xuecai was at home, he would practically live at the Jiaodaokou station; who could hide that?

Just as Li Xuewu could find out about Lai Shanchuan's personal connections, both were in the same system, and the resources they could use were about the same.

Although Ji Yuxiu was also a cadre within the system, this time Lai Shanchuan was still aiming at his personal connections.

Play is play, and trouble is trouble, but don't joke about family. Lai Shanchuan had crossed the line.

This time, there was no need for anyone else to take action; no one would come forward to stop Li Xuewu no matter how he dealt with Lai Shanchuan.

Competition within the political system can take many directions and use many means, but what everyone avoids most is involving family. This is the bottom line; whoever touches it is doomed.

Even if you win, your future is lost.

There is no need to argue whether Ji Yuxiu is Li Xuewu's family, nor is there a need to say that Ji Yuxiu is just a unit person when at the unit. There is no place for him to argue, and no one is willing to be this judge. It's not just the eyes of the masses that are sharp.

The steel mill in the afternoon was slightly quiet, but this quietness carried restlessness and nervousness. Even the noisy small organizations from the usual days had quieted down, as if it were the calm before a storm.

Indeed, the mid-year meeting was a storm; some flowers bloomed with the help of the rain, while others were knocked down by it.

Quietness is relative; from time to time, cadres would be called to the Personnel or Party Committee Department for talks, which also became the noise behind the quietness.

Everyone in the office was watching these people who were called in, and everyone was waiting to see their expressions after they came out of the talk meeting room.

One by one, they turned into Section Chiefs of the Party Committee Department, discussing who should go where, who should be promoted, and who should be demoted. The small circles were exceptionally lively.

Today was a rhythm of such talks all day long. Precisely because the situation was changing too fast, many tasks were rushed on this day, appearing somewhat prominent.

As the supervising business unit, the Party Committee Department coordinated with the Factory Office to invite various leaders to talk to cadres at the deputy section level and above who were under their purview. Only those at the deputy section level were left for the Party Committee Department to talk to themselves.

And anything further down could only be handled by the Personnel Department, including those being promoted to deputy section level, which should also be handled by the Personnel Department.

With the division of labor for the three stages settled, the progress of these talks was fast. Basically, everyone on the cadre adjustment list decided in the previous few meetings would be talked to on this day.

No one was sure whether the people on that big list were being promoted or demoted, unless they had obvious work achievements and hadn't been adjusted at the beginning of the year; only then could one judge they were being promoted.

Of course, it could also be a lateral transfer, or perhaps they would be assigned elsewhere; who knows.

Organizational work has always been a mystery. Many people guess correctly, but only those who guess wrong become the focus of discussion.

So, whether the probability of guessing correctly is higher or the probability of guessing wrong is higher, no one can say for sure.

Being in the game but not the one riding the waves, watching others ride the wind and waves, and commenting a little is just to relieve the bitterness of life.

Otherwise, why do you think teahouses and theaters were the most popular in the old days? Isn't it just to show off one's eloquence and point out the country over a cup of hot tea?

It's the same in later generations. Do you really think your comments on a certain current event will become a hot topic? Will be paid attention to by the other party and all walks of life?

Even if there is, it's one in a million, negligible.

Without status and identity, the words spoken are just nonsense and noise. Who in the office cares? It's just a joke.

There were also such voices in the Security Division office, but Li Xuewu didn't manage them. Casual talk is harmless.

Before the bell for getting off work rang, the broadcast station started playing passionate and high-spirited songs.

Different from the style of songs that urged people to forge ahead in the morning, the broadcast during this evening period had to broadcast current events and ideological education.

Hearing the singing of "Sailing the Seas Depends on the Helmsman" in his ears, Li Xuewu put down the fountain pen in his hand, raised his head, and looked outside.

Sha Qizhi happened to walk in. Seeing the Section Chief looking into the distance, he smiled and reminded: "Section Chief, the guesthouse is ready."

"Hmm."

Li Xuewu responded, his gaze still looking into the distance, as if he were thinking about something.

As the song was playing, the factory's bell for getting off work also rang. In the distance, the production area workshops instantly erupted with noise.

Some workshops operated 24 hours a day without interruption, and at this time, they needed to change shifts.

Some workshops only operated during the day, and at this time, it was the time to stop and get off work.

But no matter the situation, this time point was the liveliest time in the steel mill, just like the start of the shift in the morning.

Amidst this noise, the broadcast station started its daily ideological propaganda program.

Sha Qizhi tidied up the documents approved by Li Xuewu, listening to the sound from the broadcast while filing them.

No need to worry about not hearing clearly from a distance; all public areas had large and small loudspeakers. On this propaganda channel, the steel mill had to spend money.

"Are there any propagandists in the Youth Youth Youth Tujidui?"

Li Xuewu suddenly turned his head from his state of thought and asked Sha Qizhi.

Sha Qizhi was stunned by Li Xuewu's question, then nodded and said: "Yes, they are from our Comprehensive Office. They used to manage materials, but now they have been transferred by Section Chief Yu to the Youth Youth Youth Tujidui to be responsible for propaganda work."

Li Xuewu nodded, looked at Sha Qizhi, and then ordered: "Tell Section Chief Yu that propaganda work must be grasped well. I think the assault team can completely form a propaganda team."

Expanding again?!

Sha Qizhi was a bit confused, not understanding why a special propaganda team needed to be formed when the current assault team already had a large scope of activities.

Li Xuewu didn't care about his confused expression, frowned slightly, and looked out the window, thinking to himself that after the small organizations, it would be the world of such professional teams.

The Worker Propaganda Team could expand outward. He had let Yu Decai cultivate talents in this area all along.

From the initial copy propaganda to the later material support, as well as the propaganda actions coordinated with the Propaganda Division, all were laying the foundation for this goal.

And after pondering for a while, Li Xuewu felt that this was the right time to form a propaganda team.

In two or three months, when it matures, it will be another sharp weapon.

The Youth Youth Youth Tujidui, as the name suggests, could assault and engage in infrastructure construction in the early stage of organizational construction, but it would definitely be eliminated in the future.

Especially after the working group launched the propaganda activities of learning from the Security Division, the assault teams of various departments in the steel mill sprang up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

But if you want to talk about the capabilities of these assault teams, they can only be said to be uneven, with different levels.

They are all sorts of things; when there are too many, they are no longer fresh, and they are no longer prominent. It is even more likely that the overall image will be ruined by those making up the numbers.

The image of the Security Division's Youth Youth Youth Tujidui has always been very good, learning ideology, discussing the line, actively participating in the organization, management, and propaganda work of the Great Learning and Great Discussion activities, and actively maintaining the order and discipline of the activities.

Whether it was on the working group side or the factory leadership side, they had all received affirmation and praise.

Since everyone is swarming to learn from the Security Division to engage in assault teams, Li Xuewu has to play something fresh and engage in a propaganda team.

A propaganda team is good; the focus is on propaganda. Professional propaganda teams can also stand on high ground without being affected by certain factors, always walking in the forefront.

This is natural; those who clean up the mess can never outrun those who throw the mess.

The broadcast still had that familiar voice, but Li Xuewu's thoughts were no longer on it.

Sha Qizhi tidied up the documents and accompanied Li Xuewu downstairs.

"You go off work first. Just leave the car to me, Jiankun."

Li Xuewu gave instructions to the two, then signaled Han Jiankun to get out of the car and drove it himself.

Han Jiankun hesitated for a moment, then got out of the car and stood with Sha Qizhi, watching the command vehicle leave the factory office area and head toward the guesthouse.

Li Xuewu rarely drove this car himself, and even less would he make things difficult for Han Jiankun, but generally, if there was a dinner party in the evening, he would let Han Jiankun go home first.

Just because he had social engagements didn't mean his secretary and driver had to follow him to social engagements. His time was precious, and other people's time was equally precious.

Who doesn't want to get off work early in the evening and go back to accompany their family? Right now, he was still a small fry of the ninth rank, and there were few times to put on airs.

He was probably one of the few people in the steel mill who didn't need a driver or secretary to open the car door.

The guesthouse didn't arrange for leaders to dine collectively in the evening. Cadres on night shift usually just packed their own food and ate a little.

Basically, no matter how big the leader was, everyone had an aluminum lunch box in their hand; there was no other difference.

However, this dinner party this evening was an exception; it was equivalent to ordering food in a restaurant.

It's just that the location was in the steel mill, his own territory, which was more appropriate and convenient.

The cook's skills were guaranteed, the materials were ready-made, and the wine and drinks were prepared long ago, appearing to be handled with ease.

Compared to the dining environment outside, Li Huai De still preferred the steel mill guesthouse.

So when Li Xuewu parked the car and stepped into the lobby, the waiter Xiao Jin reminded: "Deputy Factory Director Li and the others have arrived; they are in the tea room."

Li Xuewu nodded knowingly. He had deliberately waited for a while before coming, which counted as giving these people time and opportunity to communicate with Li Huai De.

The tea room here was larger, with tables and chairs as well as a sofa area. Whether there were many or few people, there were suitable positions, making it convenient to talk about things.

The setting of the tea room was still of a welfare nature. Sitting here didn't incur a fee; only ordering tea, pastries, and fruit incurred a fee.

However, those who came to the factory for business trips or study wouldn't be short of this little money; they would generally order a few appropriate snacks, which counted as usage fees.

Li Huai De didn't need to; him coming here counted as playing on his home turf. Qin Huairu had long prepared tea and fruit plates, and the bill had been hung under Li Xuewu's name.

As long as Li Xuewu was involved, as long as Deputy Factory Director Li was present, Qin Huairu would default to Li Xuewu settling the bill.

After Li Xuewu specifically requested it, she and Zhang Songying no longer helped Li Xuewu balance this account.

On petty profits, Li Xuewu would never be stingy with these people. A little tea money, a little wine money, how much money could it be?

As long as Li Huai De didn't make a sound in trade, one trip would be enough for them to consume in the guesthouse for ten years.

Li Huai De knew very well why he enjoyed Li Xuewu's account-hanging service with peace of mind.

Giving Li Xuewu two of the three fixed trade positions was also based on this cognition.

He didn't have the ability to build a basic sales network in various places, but it didn't prevent him from giving this opportunity to people close to him.

Li Xuewu wasn't someone particularly close to him, and sometimes he even had to be a little wary.

But the good thing about Li Xuewu was that he had a sense of boundaries, and the wonderful thing was that he had a sense of proportion in doing things.

It made him not dislike Li Xuewu, and even less would he overly rely on Li Xuewu. Having him would bring some pressure, but he couldn't do without him.

Therefore, in his relationship with Li Xuewu, Li Huai De gave a certain amount of respect and importance.

Li Xuewu could make decisions on many things in this circle, such as the construction and management of trade projects. Even if Li Xuewu intervened in something, he wouldn't say anything.

The precious part was that, except for the Security Division's projects, Li Xuewu would communicate with him first on all projects belonging to him, and then talk to others in front of him.

This approach looked troublesome, but it actually made him feel very comfortable. Li Xuewu was young, but his way of doing things was seasoned; many people thought so.

As for Li Xuewu offering many opinions in this circle or executing many orders on his behalf, Li Huai De held a supportive attitude.

The reason was that what Li Xuewu said was right, the arrangements were appropriate, and the work was done well; no one could compare to this.

If Zhang Guoqi had Li Xuewu's ability, then Li Huai De definitely wouldn't use Li Xuewu, but would use Zhang Guoqi.

But the key was that there was no one in this circle with more ability than Li Xuewu.

And people in this circle were very convinced by Li Xuewu, and were very trusting of his ability to handle affairs and coordinate.

The Dispatch Division and Sales Division were already working on internal reforms. According to the opinions Li Xuewu expressed in the guesthouse last time, they had made a relatively huge action plan based on the border trade line.

The Sales Division opened up basic points along the directions the Dispatch Division could reach, the Dispatch Division connected these points into lines, and the Sales Division, in turn, relied on the Dispatch Division's transport capacity to expand these lines into planes.

Li Xuewu made modification opinions and instructions on this plan three times in a row. The special topic group formed by the Dispatch Division and Sales Division revised it several times, and finally produced this plan that would affect the future of the steel mill.

Li Huai De had read this plan very seriously. He believed that this plan could serve as the development outline for the Logistics Division, Dispatch Division, and Sales Division for the next twenty years.

People from these three departments also studied this plan again and again, and all saw the development prospects of their own departments in the steel mill after the implementation of this plan.

No one didn't want to progress; they were just suffering from having no opportunity.

Now the opportunity had come, the direction of progress had been determined, and it had been pointed out for you. Set off.

Could those who saw hope and prospects let go of a gathering in the circle like today?

"Whoa! You guys arrived so early!"

When Li Xuewu entered the room, he saw that besides Dong Wenxue and those people from the steel mill, the cadres in the circle on the steel mill side had also arrived.

Looking carefully, it seemed that only Yang Shuji and Xu Sinian hadn't arrived.

Wei Zaike smiled and pointed at Li Xuewu, saying: "It's still you, Section Chief Li, who has the airs. It's one thing to arrive later than Secretary Dong, but how can you arrive later than Factory Director Li!"

Seeing Wei Zaike "making trouble" for Li Xuewu, everyone started to boo, laughing and joking that Li Xuewu had to be punished with three cups of wine tonight.

Li Xuewu didn't care about this wine; he was actually very happy to see this scene.

Everyone joking with him meant that these people still had him in their eyes. He would only cry when he was truly Li Kezhang Guoqi sitting in the corner.

Li Xuewu smiled and waved his hand, saying: "You guys don't know what's good for you; I'm giving you an opportunity."

While talking, he picked up a chair and sat down beside Zhang Guoqi, laughing and joking with the few people sitting around the sofa: "I spend too much time with Factory Director Li on usual days, and I'm afraid you guys will be jealous. Now I'm letting you guys get close to Factory Director Li too."

"Hahaha!"

Wei Zaike pointed at Li Xuewu and looked at the crowd with a smile, saying: "He is like a broken jar inlaid with gold; only his mouth is good, hahaha!"

Everyone was just joking because they saw Li Xuewu enter the room. The main topic center still had to be Li Huai De sitting at one end of the long sofa, and Dong Wenxue sitting in the single sofa seat on Li Huai De's left hand.

Li Huai De was the only one sitting on the long sofa; others would rather stand than sit over, because everyone knew that the secretary was coming tonight, and that position was reserved for the secretary.

Tea cups and fruit plates were placed on the coffee table. Li Xuewu had just entered, and the waiter had already brought over the brewed tea cup.

The laughter and joking over there continued, while Li Huai De was smiling and talking to Dong Wenxue about something; the atmosphere was very harmonious.

Li Xuewu thanked the waiter, took the tea cup, and placed it to one side. Then he sized up Zhang Guoqi and asked with a smile: "You've been resting for so many days; how do you feel?"

Ever since he had a meal with Zhang Guoqi in the guesthouse last time, Li Xuewu hadn't seen him in the factory.

After dismissal, there is a window period, which is also an organizational convention, giving these cadres a relatively relaxed vacation to relieve their nerves and adjust their mentality.

However, these cadres often cannot rest well during this vacation because they are all worried about where they will be arranged next.

Li Xuewu's question was also probing Zhang Guoqi to see where he was going next.

Zhang Guoqi shook his head with a bitter smile. He understood the implication of Li Xuewu's words, and of course, there was also the meaning of caring about him.

The tea room was so big, and everyone was sitting around the leader. Li Xuewu could have sat in the middle when he came, but now he was sitting by his side; wasn't that just giving him face?

The rest these days really calmed him down and also made him understand the meaning of the warmth and coldness of human relationships.

The Logistics Management Division was still under the management of Deputy Factory Director Li, so people over there wouldn't give him any embarrassment on the surface.

But he also had no heart to go to the Logistics Management Division to work anymore. With his current status, going back would only make everyone feel awkward.

The Logistics Management Division was already like this, let alone others.

He used to be the one sitting in the middle of the circle talking freely with Deputy Factory Director Li, but now he had been squeezed to the edge; didn't that explain the problem?

The dismissal celebration banquet held for him that day could be said to be the last lively swan song of his career as the head of the Logistics Management Division.

The liveliness dispersed, and the fireworks cooled easily.

Now he had no position, only an empty status, and where he would go next was uncertain. What qualifications did he have to sit in the middle? Wouldn't that become a joke?

The key point was that Deputy Factory Director Li was also very troubled now, not knowing how to arrange him, so he could only wait in embarrassment.

What position lower than the regular section level would he be willing to do?

Dismissal is not demotion; the factory didn't demote him, so could he demote himself?

But the regular section-level positions in the factory were limited. In the current situation, where could he be arranged?

If he couldn't be arranged at this mid-year meeting, then he would really be left hanging.

Falling, he couldn't fall down; going up, he couldn't go up. Being stuck in the middle was the most uncomfortable.

Being away from a leadership position for a long time, his reactions would become dull, and related abilities would degenerate. A few years later, he would be indistinguishable from the crowd and could only retire as a researcher.

So how could he not worry, and how could he rest well?

Li Xuewu's question almost made his old tears fall; it was too difficult.

Li Xuewu asking this also had a purpose. Zhang Guoqi had ability, but his mentality was unstable, and he was prone to going astray.

Moreover, he had no independent judgment and was easily influenced by others' words, affecting his own decisions.

Li Xuewu had seen many such people; their thinking was not firm, and they had no goals in their careers.

To put it bluntly, it was just a bit short-sighted.

However, Li Xuewu very much appreciated his ability to coordinate and allocate. This person had been the head of the Logistics Management Division for so many years and could manage such a large family business in the Logistics Division in an orderly manner; he had a certain level.

Anyone who has managed logistics knows that logistics work is not easy to do; it's not just the simple label of having plenty of oil and water.

In this era, logistics work is not only a high-risk profession but also a department where leaders change frequently.

Now the steel mill's logistics division includes several sections of the division itself, as well as the Labor Protection Factory, Tool Factory, Guesthouse, Canteen, School, Hospital, Cinema, Club, etc.

Just think about it. Here, the Labor Protection Factory and Tool Factory were allocated to the joint enterprise, and the guesthouse was allocated to the Security Division. The remaining ones were troublesome enough. How were they managed before they were allocated away?

The situation of the guesthouse was special, needless to say. During his management period, the Labor Protection Factory and Tool Factory and other supporting factories all excellently completed their supporting tasks.

Look at the factory hospital again; it was a top-tier hospital in the East City area, and every year it could get excellent graduates from major medical colleges.

Now that the factory's efficiency is good and the benefits are good, is it hard to choose between going to an outside hospital or coming to a big factory hospital?

It was precisely because he performed excellently when managing these units that he was kept in this position by one leader after another.

His current situation can only be said that he didn't see clearly and took a big tumble; it had nothing to do with whether he had work ability.

Li Xuewu had the idea of arranging him. Using his ability was one aspect, considering Li Huai De's difficulties was another aspect, and the other aspect was mainly wanting to continue to exert his attacking power.

Wang Jingzhang had become a loudspeaker for some people, a dog that bites. Li Xuewu couldn't go into battle himself; he had to think of a countermeasure.

Last time the working group gave the Security Division a surprise attack, Li Xuewu suspected that Wang Jingzhang was playing tricks.

Now there was no need to suspect; just release Zhang Guoqi to fight him.

Believe that at this time, as long as Li Xuewu guides him to the right path, the factory leadership would still be willing to give Zhang Guoqi a chance on the issue of Wang Jingzhang.

"Old brother, don't sigh. A great man has things he does and things he doesn't do."

Li Xuewu patted Zhang Guoqi's knee and whispered comfortingly: "Going up and down is originally a necessary experience in the lives of us people. Why be so worried?"

Zhang Guoqi raised his head and looked at Li Xuewu. He had an inexplicable grief in his heart that he wanted to vent but couldn't.

This kid talking to him about life experience, and going up and down, was it a bit too much!

Have you ever been down!!!

You've only been going up!

When they wanted you to go down, what did you do?!

The dead Fu Bin is the first to disagree!

What is called standing and talking without back pain? How does Zhang Guoqi feel that this kid is still a bit smug!

Is this comforting himself, or "comforting" himself!

Li Xuewu smiled and didn't care about the "touch" in Zhang Guoqi's eyes, continuing: "The road, if this one doesn't work, just change to another one."

After speaking, he picked up Zhang Guoqi's tea cup and handed it to him. Seeing him hesitate, he even raised his hand to signal him.

Zhang Guoqi looked at Li Xuewu for several seconds before taking the tea cup.

And Li Xuewu said again while Zhang Guoqi was drinking tea: "I see you, old brother, are meticulous in thought and good at forging ahead; you are a good hand at engaging in ideology and economy!"

"Pfft~"

Zhang Guoqi felt a bit panicked when he heard the word ideology now. He was the one who stumbled on this, and Li Xuewu still said he was a good hand...

He was already like this!

Still a good hand?!

"Hey~~~!"

Seeing his big reaction, Li Xuewu smiled and comforted: "Where you fail, you climb up. Besides, I don't think you have any problems with this at all; that was entirely the work of a villain."

Hearing Li Xuewu's words, Zhang Guoqi raised his eyebrows, showing a look of realization, and said: "You saw it too?"

"Hiss~~~"

Li Xuewu inhaled with a twitch of his face, his body leaning back slightly, with an expression of you don't trust me on his face.

It made Zhang Guoqi feel embarrassed. Only then did he lightly pat Zhang Guoqi's knee and continue: "Not just me, you ask everyone in this room; who can't see it?"

Zhang Guoqi scanned the people in the room; they were all busy being polite to Deputy Factory Director Li. Who had the time to pay attention to him?

However, since Li Xuewu said so, he believed Li Xuewu's words; after all, Li Xuewu was a decent person and never lied.

"I just said everything was going wrong!"

Zhang Guoqi gritted his teeth and looked at Li Xuewu, saying: "These days I've also been pondering, and I always feel that something is not quite right, as if a big hand is stirring me up, insisting that I must be so unsuccessful."

"You say it's strange?!"

"What's strange about this~"

Li Xuewu bumped Zhang Guoqi with his arm and said with lowered eyes: "You, old brother, have been in the Logistics Division for seven years without any trouble. Why did trouble happen now?"

After saying this, Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and asked: "You wouldn't really think it was a natural disaster, would you?"

"No!"

Zhang Guoqi narrowed his eyes, looked into the void, and gritted his teeth, saying: "It's a man-made disaster!"

"Hey! ~"

Li Xuewu nodded in agreement, then said: "I also felt something was wrong before, but no matter how I thought about it, I couldn't figure it out. I wanted to remind you a few words, but I was afraid of affecting your train of thought, sigh~"

Looking at Li Xuewu's helpless expression, Zhang Guoqi nodded and said: "Distance tests a horse's strength, and time reveals a person's heart. Brother, don't sigh. Even I didn't see it myself, what could you do?"

After speaking, he shook his head and narrowed his eyes, saying: "It's just that I don't know if the person I'm thinking of is really..."

Hearing Zhang Guoqi say this, Li Xuewu patted his knee with a little force and whispered a reminder: "The secretary is here, stand up!"

Zhang Guoqi was suddenly awakened by Li Xuewu's reminder. Looking up again, Yang Shuji Yuan was really standing at the door.

At this moment, not only Li Xuewu stood up, but everyone in the tea room also stood up to greet him.

Yang Shuji naturally had his bearing. He walked in with a smile and greeted everyone: "You arrived so early; you must have missed Comrade Wenxue, haha."

"Hahaha~"

Listening to the echoing laughter of the crowd, Yang Yuan also looked at the several steel mill cadres who took the initiative to walk over and greet him.

"Hello, Yang Shuji."

"Comrade Wenxue, you've worked hard."

"Long time no see, Secretary."

"Zongfang is still the same old self."

"Hello, Secretary."

"Good, Housheng seems to have gained weight? Hahaha~"

Yang Zongfang and Mei Housheng were cadres who came out of the steel mill's Party Committee system. Their way of greeting Yang Yuan was different from Dong Wenxue's performance, appearing closer.

However, Yang Yuan, on the contrary, wanted to show more closeness and respect to Dong Wenxue, and only added the word "comrade" after Dong Wenxue's name. What this represented was self-evident.

While shaking hands and greeting the cadres of the steel mill system, he was also chatting and laughing with the steel mill cadres standing on both sides.

Yang Yuan handled this kind of scene very freely, not missing anyone by his side, taking care of everything.

However, if you were standing outside, or couldn't squeeze in, then there was no way; he could only take care of the few people right in front of his eyes.

However, there were also accidents. If you stood tall, or were tall, he couldn't help but notice you.

"Haha, this time Comrade Wenxue is back, I'm afraid Deputy Section Chief Li will be happy."

"Teacher and student reunited, a rare opportunity, haha!"

With the secretary naming names, the surrounding people naturally had to play along, and everyone laughed and made a scene.

What Li Xuewu noticed was Xu Sinian, who came in with the secretary. At this moment, that guy was already avoiding everyone's gaze and quietly mixing into the crowd.

"If heaven has feelings, heaven will also grow old; the right path in the world is the vicissitudes of life."

Seeing the secretary name him, Li Xuewu replied with a smile and also let Zhang Guoqi, who was beside him, move aside.

Yang Yuan naturally saw Zhang Guoqi too. At this moment, he nodded with a smile and let Dong Wenxue and others surround him and go to sit beside Li Huai De.

Zhang Guoqi was very grateful for Li Xuewu's favor. Although greeting the secretary at this time was of no use, at least Li Xuewu was not a greedy person and knew how to share good things.

The words Li Xuewu said to him earlier were a bit unpleasant, but combined with what he said later, he felt that Li Xuewu was a good person, at least a decent gentleman.

Everyone sat down again. Li Xuewu still sat beside Zhang Guoqi and didn't go to join the fun on the sofa side.

This also made Zhang Guoqi feel inexplicably moved. Only when a person is in a low valley can they see clearly who is a person, who is a ghost, who is a friend, and who is a lackey.

Seeing that they were already dividing cigarettes and lighting them over there, Li Xuewu also took out his cigarette case, shared a cigarette with Zhang Guoqi, and they lit them for each other.

Zhang Guoqi took a puff of the cigarette and narrowed his eyes, saying to Li Xuewu: "The words you said to me just now, combined with what I thought of earlier, verified each other, and only then did I have a feeling of sudden enlightenment."

While talking, he nodded and said: "I didn't suffer this stumble unjustly; it's all my own fault. I only knew how to charge, but didn't know how to guard against villains."

Li Xuewu looked at him and whispered a reminder: "A few days ago, Deputy Director Feng of the working group went to talk to Yang Yuan..."

"Deputy Section Chief Li~ what are you two whispering about over there!?"

Li Xuewu and the two were talking, but didn't notice that the room had quieted down. Yang Shuji was asking them questions.

"Oh? Hehe~"

Li Xuewu was just stunned for a moment, then instantly returned to a smiling expression, licked his lips and said: "Just now Director Zhang said that a few days ago he heard someone say that Deputy Director Feng of the working group went to see you."

Halfway through this sentence, everyone in the room held their breath and looked at Yang Yuan at the same time.

And Yang Yuan's gaze was looking at Li Xuewu.

There was another person looking at Li Xuewu, and that was Zhang Guoqi.

He was also puzzled. This was indeed what he heard from others, but this "other person" was Li Xuewu. This was what he just said, and the second half hadn't been said yet before he was interrupted by the secretary.

And Li Xuewu's second half also arrived at this moment: "It's because Section Chief Wang of the Service Division has made contributions in assisting with the case, so he suggested promoting him to Deputy Secretary."

At this moment, everyone's reactions were different, but Yang Yuan didn't speak, just looked at Li Xuewu, waiting for him to continue.

Li Huai De also narrowed his eyes, the smile on his face like an old fox. He felt that Li Xuewu was going to play tricks again.

"What a coincidence!"

Li Xuewu signaled Zhang Guoqi and said: "I just wanted to tell Director Zhang, what a coincidence, someone also promised me to be Deputy Secretary~"

"Hehehe~"

The atmosphere in the room froze, but was instantly shattered by Yang Yuan's laughter.

"Deputy Secretary~"

Yang Yuan looked at Li Xuewu with a smile, then looked at Li Huai De and Dong Wenxue, joking: "I actually think Deputy Section Chief Li is more than enough to be a Deputy Secretary~"

"Hahahaha~"

Everyone in the room was "amused" by the secretary's "joke", laughing at Li Xuewu's "overestimating his capabilities", and also laughing at the "whimsical" person in Li Xuewu's words.

Who else in this steel mill could casually promise someone the position of Deputy Secretary? Besides Yang Shuji, I'm afraid there is only...?

No!

Everyone still maintained a smile on the surface, but in reality, they had already overturned the five-flavor bottle in their hearts.

This person who talked to Deputy Section Chief Li about the Deputy Secretary position also talked to them. How come they didn't hear about the Deputy Secretary matter?!

Yang Yuan's joke was not opened in vain, and Li Xuewu's joke was not made in vain. Yang Yuan was answering Li Xuewu's question.

Li Xuewu was using this joke to probe Yang Yuan: was Dong Wenxue's appointment this time a Deputy Factory Director, or a Deputy Secretary?